Cubs reward Ryan Sweeney

Posted October 08, 2013 10:00 pm

By Bruce Miles

The Cubs went with a three-man outfield rotation in left and center field late in the season, with rookie Junior Lake and journeymen Ryan Sweeney and Brian Bogusevic.

They seemed to like Sweeney's left-handed bat and athleticism enough to reward him with a new two-year contract.

The Cubs have not announced the deal, but club sources confirmedthat Sweeney has received a deal worth a guaranteed $3.5 million The 28-year-old left-handed hitter will get $1.5 million over the next two seasons. There is a $2.5 million club option for 2016, or the Cubs can give Sweeney a $500,000 buyout.

Sweeney was the White Sox' second-round draft pick in 2003. The Cubs signed him as a free agent last April 2 after the Boston Red Sox released him at the end of spring training.

In 70 games for the Cubs, Sweeney had a hitting line of .266/.324/.448 with 6 home runs and 19 RBI. The Cubs selected Sweeney from their Class AAA Iowa affiliate May 6. He spent two months on the disabled list from July to September with a cracked rib but came back and played 26 games over the final month.

Chicago Cubs center fielder Ryan Sweeney takes a home run away from St. Louis Cardinals' Matt Adams in the sixth inning of a baseball game on Thursday, June 20, 2013, in St. Louis.(AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

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